Third John 1:4 says, “I have no greater joy than to see my children walking in the Truth.” Amen to that!  I would add my own corollary. I have no greater relief than to see my children able to pay their own way when they become adults.

We all want to help our children financially, but it is more important to teach them to become financially independent.

Here are some tips:

1. Start early with dividing all income, including birthday gifts, into envelopes for giving, saving and spending. Don’t allow any income to be used without first dividing it into these important categories. When they are young, I recommend they give 10%, save 70% and have up to 20% in a spending envelope. These ratios change over time, of course.
2. Next, give them responsibilities to pay for expenses as they grow older. Things like a cell phone, the first car, their car insurance and gas. All of these teach important lessons on earning, saving and spending.
3. Teach your children God’s financial principles about debt, saving, giving, planning and being a faithful steward. They are able to learn much earlier than we may give them credit.
4. If your adult children live at home, give them financial responsibilities and goals to achieve before moving out on their own.

Preparing your children to manage their money well will set them apart from their peers and give them a great start in life. It is truly more important to teach them to fish than to give them a fish.

I recommend that you subscribe to our daily devotional called God is Faithful. We will send a short devotional to your inbox with Biblical financial insights and tips to keep you encouraged on your financial journey.